Invaded (Alienated, #2)(23)
“It’s a peace offering. Either that, or she’s trying to kill me,” he teased. “Her cooking is only marginally better than yours.”
Cara sputtered, unable to speak, until her mouth dropped into a pink oval and held there.
What? Had he said something wrong? Cara loved to joke about her horrible culinary skills. “You said your flatbread could end life on Earth.”
She didn’t laugh as he’d expected. Redness rose in her cheeks, continuing all the way to her hairline. She clenched her jaw and ground out, “I’ve got to go,” then disconnected. He tried to summon her again, but she denied the transmission.
Great bleeding gods, what had he done?
Aelyx didn’t pretend to comprehend the workings of the human female mind. He closed his eyes and replayed their conversation, which seemed to have gone awry when Syrine announced dinner was ready. Could that be it? Was Cara threatened because another female had offered him a meal? That seemed ridiculous, even for a human, but what did he know?
He decided to ask David.
Aelyx found his bodyguard in the living area, sitting by an open window on a chair he’d dragged over from the dining room. An icy breeze swirled through the penthouse as David used a magazine to fan a light haze of smoke outside. Smiling, the boy nodded toward Syrine in the kitchen and whispered, “At least she didn’t set off the fire alarm this time.”
Syrine peeked her head through the doorway and caught Aelyx’s eye. I’ll bring your l’ina to the table. I think I finally got it right!
Aelyx smiled, to match her excitement, while his heart sank. Judging by the smell, she hadn’t “gotten it right” at all.
David tried to hide a chuckle. “I don’t know whether to pity you or hate you.”
“Hate me?” Aelyx asked as he took a seat in front of the coffee table. “I should share my supper with you. Then you’d know where to direct your loathing.”
“Yeah, last night’s dinner looked like charcoal briquettes,” David said. “But damn, man. Look how many chicks fall at your feet.” He listed them on his fingers. “You’ve got Cara waiting on L’eihr; Syrine busting her cute little butt in the kitchen; and on any given day, a hundred groupies sending you their panties.” He pointed to a postal delivery crate, piled high with envelopes and packages. “And I’d know—I screen the mail.”
“Really?” Underwear as a form of correspondence? Human behavior truly confounded him sometimes. “Thanks for reminding me why I don’t read fan letters.” Aelyx hooked a thumb toward the kitchen. “As for Syrine, we’re friends. And barely that.”
David stopped waving his magazine, his face brightening. “You sure?”
“Completely.” Aelyx tapped the side of his head. “We communicate from here, remember? She thinks of me as a brother. I’d sense it if she felt differently.”
“Huh. You don’t say…” David tipped his head, appraising Syrine as she crossed the room with a plate balanced on her forearm and utensils in both hands.
Aelyx recognized the glazed-over look in his friend’s eyes. “Save your efforts,” he whispered. “She hates humans.”
David continued watching her as a crooked grin tugged at his mouth. “That’s because she doesn’t know me yet. Just wait till I unleash my charm.”
The boy’s unfailing confidence reminded Aelyx of why he’d wandered out here. “Can I ask you something? You seem to know a lot about females.”
“Yeah,” David said with a smirk. “And the first thing I can tell you is they don’t like being called females. Just say girls.”
“Okay, then. Girls.” Aelyx took the plate Syrine offered and thanked her. “I think Cara’s angry with me, but I’m not sure why.” He used his fork to poke at a chunk of blackened meat. “She kept asking why Syrine was cooking for me. Could that be it?”
David snorted a condescending laugh, making Aelyx regret that he’d asked. “Are you serious?”
“Yes.”
“Of course she’s mad.” David softened his tone and pointed at the mail crate. “Dude, women send you more than lacy thongs. You got six marriage proposals and a dozen abduction requests last week. Your girlfriend is on another planet while you’re here—surrounded by horny chicks—and now the girl you’re living with is making you dinner. Can you blame Cara for feeling insecure?”
Aelyx hadn’t thought of it that way, but when he considered David’s argument, he guessed he understood how Cara felt. But she didn’t have any competition for his heart. How could he make her see that?
“It doesn’t help that Syrine’s beautiful,” David added with a grin at the object of his unrequited infatuation. “She’d make any girl jealous.”
Syrine rolled her eyes and locked gazes with Aelyx. Does it really upset Cara that I prepare meals for us? What an odd reaction. How else does she expect us to eat?
Aelyx tried to block his thoughts, but a swirl of malodorous steam wafted up from his plate and turned his stomach. Unbidden, his distaste flowed into Syrine’s mind.
Oh, gods. Her eyes flew wide. You hate my supper! You’ve only been eating it to appease me! Without giving him a chance to explain, she grabbed the plate from his lap and retreated to the kitchen, muttering something about ordering takeout.